Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) water level
River gauge, Fox River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) reads 6.82 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 6.36 ft, based on 17 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.46 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 6.16 ft, a difference of +0.66 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 6.80 ft and 7.84 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 6.36 ft0.46 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 5.99 ft – 8.13 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 6.16 ft+0.66 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 6.80 ft – 7.84 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 5.95 ft – 9.37 ft
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.11 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Fox River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River at PrincetonRiver gauge, Fox River | 5.19 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 135 mi |
| Fox River at WaukeshaRiver gauge, Fox River | 3.14 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 70 mi |
| Fox River at Waterford Dam, at WaterfordRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.78 ft | No reference yet | +0.08 ft | 53 mi |
| Fox River at RochesterRiver gauge, Fox River | 4.66 ft | Normal | +0.08 ft | 52 mi |
| Fox River near New MunsterRiver gauge, Fox River | 6.70 ft | Below flood stage | +0.05 ft | 43 mi |
| Fox River at JohnsburgRiver gauge, Fox River | 4.05 ft | Normal | +0.11 ft | 26 mi |
| Fox River near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River | 4.02 ft | Normal | +0.16 ft | 22 mi |
| Fox River at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.65 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 12 mi |
| Fox River at South ElginRiver gauge, Fox River | 12.72 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 0.0 mi |
| Fox River at MontgomeryRiver gauge, Fox River | 11.71 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 18 mi |
| Fox River at YorkvilleRiver gauge, Fox River | 12.96 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 26 mi |
| Fox River at DaytonRiver gauge, Fox River | 7.30 ft | Normal | −0.16 ft | 49 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar Creek at ElginRiver gauge, Poplar Creek | 1.30 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 2.9 mi |
| Tyler Creek at ElginRiver gauge, Tyler Creek | 5.76 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 4.3 mi |
| Ferson Creek near St. CharlesRiver gauge, Ferson Creek | 1.89 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 5.0 mi |
| West Branch Du Page River near West ChicagoRiver gauge, West Branch Du Page River | 3.95 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 8 mi |
| Kress Creek at West ChicagoRiver gauge, Kress Creek | 4.21 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 11 mi |
| Mill Creek near BataviaRiver gauge, Mill Creek | 2.42 ft | Normal | −0.15 ft | 11 mi |
| Fox River (Tailwater) at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River (Tailwater) | 6.12 ft | Normal | −0.30 ft | 11 mi |
| West Branch Du Page River near WarrenvilleRiver gauge, West Branch Du Page River | 7.88 ft | High | −0.15 ft | 14 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.66 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6.16 ft.
What is a normal level for the Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 6.36 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 5.99 ft and 8.13 ft, based on 17 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 07:45 AM CDT, the water level was 6.82 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) rising or falling?
Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.20 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05551001(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.99619, -88.29500(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 6.82 ft | 2026-10-19 12:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater) (usgs:05551001). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/fox-river-at-south-elgin-il-tailwater
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer